Combined measure and funnel



Patented July 5, I898.

G. A. KEENE.

COMBINED MEASURE AND FUNNEL.

(Application filed Nov 11, 1897.) (No Model.)

VII/Ill! \MTNEEEEE INVENTEIR Nrrnn STATES ATENT Fries.

GEORGE A. KEENE, OF SAUGUS, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED MEASURE AND FUNNEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,927, dated July 5, 1898. Application filed November 11,1897. seriaiuo. 658,178. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. KEENE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Saugus, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and-useful Improvements in a Combined Measure and Funnel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in combined measures and funnels for measuring liquids of the general style and class to which my invention belongs, for which Letters Patent were granted to me March 23, 1880, numbered 225,755; and the present invention consists largely of improvements upon the invention described in the said Letters Patent.

The principal objects of these improvements are to provide means for protecting the device from insects, dust, and air when it is not in use and afford light on either or both sides of the measuring-rod when it is in use, to doaway with the stuffing-blocks and provide in place thereof a practically indestructible appliance for holding the plunger at any desired height, and to provide a guide for said rod, all as below described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section of my improved measure and funnel. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1 and with both the lids raised. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in section, taken on line X, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in vertical section, taken on line Y, Fig. 1, looking toward the left.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. 7

A is the main body of the measure and funnel, tapered downward at A and provided with a discharge-tube a, the whole being constructed, preferably, of tin.

B B represent hollow tin legs, and O O suitable handles.

D is a narrow cross-bar extending centrally across the top of the vessel and serving as a stationary base,to the opposite edges of which the lids or covers F. are hinged at 6, so as to swing upward, said lids or covers having their outer edges formed to correspond in shape with the vessel A and being provided with the flanges E, adapted to fit over the upper edge of said vessel.

F is the vertical ineasuringrod, extending from the cross-piece D down to the bottom of the vessel and provided with suitable indicators F.

H is the centrally-situated vertical plungerrod, provided at its lower end with the stopple or plug H and extending through the cross-bar D. A bracket of substantially the shape shown has its central portion K bored to receive the plunger-rod, and is thence bent up on opposite sides at the obtuse angles shown by the portions K, at the upper ends of which are the outwardly-extending flanges or steps K", which are rigidly secured to the under side of the cross-bar D. This bracket serves as a guide for the plunger H, guiding the stopple centrally down to the dischargetube a. A metallic spring L has its upper end bent into the horizontal portion L, which is secured to the under side of the cross-piece D inside the bracket, while the lower edge of said spring is provided with a curved notch L", which fits against and extends partially around the plunger-rod H and holds it stationary at any desired height. The curved notch L causes the spring to be in contact with the plunger-rod for about one-half of its circumference, and hence the friction by means of which the plunger-rod is held suspended at any desired height is much greater than would be the case if the lower end of the spring were straight and hence came in contact with a very small portion only of the rod. It will readily be seen that this spring is practically indestructible, while the packing shown in the Letters Patent above referred to very soon becomes useless.

WVhen the measure is not in use, it attracts flies and other insects to its interior, especially when it has been used for measuring molasses and has been set away on a drainage-jug. For this reason I have applied the covers E to the top, so that when not in use flies and dust can be kept out. In order to pour the liquid into the measure, one or both the covers may be swung up, and either or both covers may be raised for the purpose of providing light to the indicators on the measuring-rod. By lifting the plunger the contents of the measure are allowed to escape through the outlet a into the proper receptacle, and the covers are then swung down and the measure set away upon the drainage-jug.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a combined measure and funnel of the character described, the combination with the vessel A, A provided with the discharge-tube a, the bar D extending across the top of the vessel and the plunger-rod 11 extending down through said bar; of the guiding-bracket K, K, K secured to the under side of said bar and perforated to receive the plunger-rod; and the springsupport L secured to the under side of the bar and having its lower edge formed with the curved notch L, said spring bearing against the plunger-rod at the curved notch and holding it in any desired position by friction, substantially as described.

GEORGE A. KEENE.

Witnesses:

HENRY XV. TILLIAMS, A. N. BONNEY. 

